"What the hell happened here? Were we too late?", Lucan was aghast.
"No, my father and his army won't be easily taken down!", Olivia retorted and hoped in her heart that her words were true.
None of them expected that this would happen.
"Senior brother Kai, is this the effect of those illusionary magic array formations you mentioned earlier?", Jinmu asked.
Eluard gravely nodded, "Yes. The demonic creatures are spreading an undead corruption here in Norva Assili."
"They are using the illusionary formations to hide the presence of the undead. I didn't want to tell you at first in case someone gets riled up and alerts the demonic creatures."
Olivia felt that her senior brother was talking about her. She became embarrassed and hid lest Eluard catches a glimpse of her.
"Never mind that now. We need to go where High King Garron is and check out what is happening on their side."
Eluard and his students moved at a fast pace. He avoided contact with the undead by slipping through dark and small alleys that connected each street one way or another.
Their strength must be conserved as highly possible. Should another ruckus break out, they will have the energy to retaliate if needed.
"Senior brother Eluard, that group of undead doesn't have the intention of moving away from their position. Will we detour?", Jinmu pointed at the intersection in the distance.
There were at least 10 of them and they didn't look like the normal bunch that could be easily apprehended. Some of them were knights of tiers 6 and 7. The others had lower power levels while the rest were civilians.
"Stay here, I'll take care of them.", Eluard propelled to the rooftop of a half-destroyed wooden house.
'System, can we teleport these bunch of undead into that prison dimension?'
[ Affirmative. Targets must be stationary for 2 seconds. ]
Hearing the good news, Eluard extended his hands and channeled the earth element on the ground where the undead was stood blindly.
He gripped them and at the same time, the ground crumbled which surprised his targets. The undead fell 10 meters deep with spikes and roots waiting to hold them in place.
They grumbled in distress. Due to the long spikes and the hardened entangling roots, the undead was unable to get out of their predicament.
The high-level warriors tried to use their chivalric will in destroying the obstacles but Eluard reinforced its durability.
He quickly started the teleportation process. Within 2 seconds, a light flashed inside the deep hole, teleporting the undead to their destination.
Eluard didn't celebrate and returned to his students.
"It's all good, time to move again."
The four students were enlightened and inspired by how Eluard dealt with this situation.
Emi, Lucan, and Olivia were thinking of fighting the undead group and finishing it as quickly as possible.
On the other hand, Jinmu thought of distracting them to somewhere else. He did not want to pick a fight since his opponent's strength was out of his league. In addition, it was to also prevent inviting suspicion or attention from the nearby undead.
In Eluard's mind, he was running out of experiments for the 2nd method. That group was plenty in numbers and varied in power level, a great sample for his future tests.
Regardless, the trouble was gone and now, the only thing that separated them from High King Garron's encampment was a group of stern guards stationed at the entrance.
Eluard stopped advancing and gestured to his students to do so as well. This confused them and wondered what their senior brother managed to look up this time.
Eluard proactively spoke, "Look at your map. There are two red dots in that entrance."
They followed and realized something.
"Senior brother Kai, are they demonic creatures?", Jinmu was worried. The undead was shown to be grey or dark dots on the map.
A red meant that a true enemy was nearby.
"Yes.", a dark expression formed on Eluard's face, "This is very tricky. I don't want to alert the demonic creatures right now."
[ Demonic Creature (Unnamed) ]
[ Power Level: Karagero (Upper Demon) ]
[ Demonic Symbols: 355 ]
[ 225 Symbols of Asura, 50 Symbols of Baruchard, 50 Symbols of Alhastra, 20 Symbols of Sarandawa ]
[ Status: Demonic Transfiguration (Indefinite) ]
[ Type: Fighter ]
…
[ Demonic Creature (Unnamed) ]
[ Power Level: Karagero (Upper Demon) ]
[ Demonic Symbols: 455 ]
[ 300 Symbols of Magicka, 100 Symbols of Alhastra, 55 Symbols of Darhiwa ]
[ Status: Demonic Transfiguration (Indefinite) ]
[ Type: Caster ]
…
[ Demonic Transfiguration ]
[ A demonic spell that allows demonic creatures to transform themselves into another species. ]
[ Additional Note: Based on the detected mastery of the caster who casted the demonic transfiguration spell, only an archmage can manage to identify them under normal situations. ]
[ Additional Note: The duration indefinitely lasts until exposed using a magic spell, retracted by its caster, or the caster is killed. ]
'This is bad. Two demonic creatures comparable to a master wizard at the median ring.', Eluard analyzed his enemies, 'And a demonic caster of an archmage level supporting them in the shadows…'
'Do I stand a chance here?'
The demonic creatures transformed their figures exactly like northerner warriors, making it hard for any other person to distinguish them from the real deal.
Although Olivia could pass through due to her identity, she would be the only one who could go over and see the situation inside. There was also the possibility that that demonic creature a few days ago has given Olivia's information around.
They might be alerted the moment she reveals her presence.
Walking directly and assaulting the demonic creatures wasn't an option. The guards may not believe their allegations because he and his students lack evidence to back them up. It could worsen the already dire situation they were in now.
Moreover, the demonic creatures' strength was something he could not handle as well and he did not want to waste some temporary strengthening scrolls just for a short battle.
Jinmu noticed the desperation in Eluard's expression. He turned his eyes back on the map again and saw something different.
He nudged Eluard on the sides and gathered his attention.
"Senior brother, there's a group of people here.", laying his finger on the green dots on the map, "Maybe they're a caravan or something and is worth taking a look."
"Then let's go over and see what this is all about."
…
Greywolf and the caravan slowly trod the dangerous streets early in the morning. This wasn't the type of a start he was familiar with, nor would he want to experience it again.
The horses suddenly neighed, alerting them.
"Who's there?! Show yourself!", Greywolf shouted.
"It's me, sir.", Eluard walked out of the shadows and showed himself.
Greywolf immediately recognized him, "You! How the hell are you here?!"
Wasn't he at the Sanctuary around a month ago? Did he follow them on their way here, or was it purely coincidental?
In the midst of Greywolf's surprise, another group of figures appeared and stunned him to his core.
"Yo-you two! You are in cahoots with this young man?!", pointing at Emi and Jinmu.
Cahoots?
Emi and Jinmu shook their heads and replied, "No, sir. He is our senior brother."
"Ah, senior brother?!", Greywolf could not imagine the two of them as a junior of this manipulative 'senior brother.'
Hearing the commotion outside, Aurpiel and the rest, went out.
"Greywolf, what is the matter? Why are we stopping in the middle of nowhere?!"
The captain guard was at a loss, "Sir…"
Before he could say anything, Eluard stepped forward and greeted Aurpiel.
"Hello, Sir Aurpiel. It's been a long time since we have seen each other."
Aurpiel and the two mages beside him were equally shocked of encountering Eluard in this place.
"He-hello, sir… Are you here to trade again?", Aurpiel quickly put on the face of a merchant, "I'm sorry but we are in a hurry here. Haven't you seen the dead bodies around?"
Veron tapped Aurpiel's shoulders, "They're not here to trade, Mr. Aurpiel. They're here to come with us."
"Come with us?!", Aurpiel was dumbfounded. What did Veron mean by that?
"You-! You're that person from before!", Eluard noticed Veron exiting the carriage.
"We've met again, young man.", Veron smiled, "Sir Greywolf, Mr. Aurpiel. You don't mind if we continue on our way while taking this young man and his juniors alongside, yes?"
Aurpiel scratched his head, unable to reject Veron's suggestion.
"If you don't mind, Sir Veron, then we won't mind as well. But the carriage can only carry only so many of us, right?"
"Your two mages can go outside. I have an important business with this group so please bear with my foolishness for a short while, Mr. Aurpiel.", Veron responded.
Aurpiel was left with no choice but to follow Veron's orders.
Eluard and his students entered the carriage one by one. The moment they settled in, a colder aura seeped into their skins and muscles which made them shiver.
"Oh, this is too cold!", Lucan complained.
When Eluard's eyes fell on the figure gracefully sleeping on the other side of the couch, his emotions burst out, and grabbed Haera's hand on impulse.
"Haera!"
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